Newbern March 20^th 1862

 

Dear Parents,

                        I sent a letter home soon after the battle as I could, but owing to our being so busy fixing our tents it was rather sort but I suppose it sufficed to show that I was well and safe after another severe engagement and much hardship. I closed my last letter leaving ourselves on the schooner, about fifteen miles below Newbern. We commenced landing early in the morning I went ashore just after noon and a portion of our company which had landed some time earlier could not be found. The reason was because the rest of the regiment / advanced on toward Newbern. After going a short distance we saw where the rebel pickets had been stationed and were now marching along the bank of the river and it was very sandy and very hard marching and very warm; it made the sweat flow freely.

 

March 22^nd

                        Soon after we passed where these pickets were stationed we came to some barracks where some rebel cavalry had been stationed. they were just eating their breakfast when they left. We now marched on three or four miles when we came up with our artillery and the left of the regiment. the right had gone on with the advance force. The capt of one of the guns wanted some assistance to draw his gun as his men had been drawing it clear from the landing and were pretty well tired out. Lieutenant Close asked them who would volunteer to help draw the piece nearly every one stepped out and took hold of the rope in the mud ankle deep I tell you it was hard work but had to be / done by some one. We now got behind the rest of our regiment again. We help them along a good piece with their load. We came to an extensive earthwork more than a mile in length there were no guns mounted and had been evacuated. After awhile we left the artillery and continued on our march and came up with our regiment in the evening bivouaced in the woods by the road side the rest of our company under the capt did not come up that night but early in the morning they joined us. We started some fires and made us some coffee in our cups each man brought had brought along three days rations of coffee and sugar as well as salt beef and hard bread and we found the coffee to be quite refreshing after a weary march through the mud, and in the rain. We started early the next morning and had gone but a short distance when we heard firing ahead the twenty seventh Mass was in advance and opened / the ball. The firing was now very brisk and we left the road and took the woods. the ball now whistled around our heads pretty lively striking the trees near us a making a big time generally. Just then we halted for a few minutes. we soon made an advance through the brush round into a ravine. here we halt and lay down while the balls whistled all around us striking the ground and trees tearing the leaves. the man next to me had a ball strike close to his elbow grazing his overcoat. John Wallace had a ball go through his cap just clearing his head a very narrow escape. we lay in this position as a reserve. But we hadn't been here long when orders came to advance and open fire immediately. At this time it was thought we would have to fall back on account of the rebel strength. Fortunately for us the rebels did not see us until we were formed in line of battle and opened fire on them, which was so destructive that a Capt of one of the guns who was taken prisoner said it shot fifteen men from his gun the first volley

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